Fire Department Asking To Increase Budget By 19.8%

MAITLAND — The fire department has asked for a $943,612 budget this year, a 19.8 percent increase that Chief Sid Ballou said is needed primarily to beef up protection east of Interstate 4.

The fire department budget is 13 percent of the city's proposed $7 million spending plan for 1986-1987. The city council is reviewing the proposal. If fully funded, it would raise property owners' taxes to 6.41 mills, or $6.41 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. Taxpayers this year paid 3.3 mills.

Ballou said he needs $96,000 for four firefighters, including salary, benefits, training and uniforms, because the city does not meet national fire protection standards for the area east of the interstate.The new firefighters would fill one round-the-clock position, he said.

The department also wants to pave its parking lot and buy several pieces of equipment from computers to exterior pacemakers.

''We are a manpower-intensive operation. Some very expensive equipment is necessary to outfit these people,'' Ballou said. ''We need both to keep up with what's taken place and what will take place.''

Because of growth west of Interstate 4, the department has recommended that within the next five years the city build a fire station that would cost about $830,000. It is not included in this year's budget.

The new requests total $205,162, but the overall budget only increased $155,787 because costs were cut in other areas, such as overtime pay, pensions and insurance.

One of the more expensive fire department requests is for $12,300 to replace a 10-year-old Hurst tool, which can rip open cars after accidents.

Another high-ticket item is a $15,000 radio repeater that would allow firefighters to talk directly from their portable radios without relaying back to the fire station.

The parking lot is an eyesore and filled with potholes during rainy seasons, Ballou said. He has asked for $18,000 to repave it, including landscaping and irrigation.

Also among the requests:

-- $3,200 to rebuild the department's breathing air compressor and improve the breathing aparatus firefighters use for protection from smoke.

-- $2,500 for an external pacemaker that could stimulate cardiac patients' hearts; $6,030 for a portable radio for paramedics to communicate with hospitals; and a $2,100 machine that measures blood pressure and monitors pulse.

-- $7,100 for a part-time clerk typist; $10,000 for a car for the emergency medical services coordinator; $5,521 for a telephone for the chief's car, including installation and monthly use.

-- $16,280 for two computers with accompanying software and furniture.

-- $600 for two buoyancy control compensators for divers; $700 for five wet suits; and $1,600 for a lighting system for the dive trailer.

The budget, along with written justifications for each new item, is available for review in the Maitland Public Library and city hall.

Ballou and other department heads will present their case before the city council Monday and Aug. 11. An all-day city council workshop, open to the public, is set Aug. 16 at the Quality Inn Motel on S.R. 434. Public hearings are scheduled Sept. 8 and 15, when the city will adopt its final budget.